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The early start to the strawberry season was a welcome change for Kingston farmers.
“It’s been a great season. It started very early for us, earlier than ever, â€explains Christine Paul, co-owner of Fruition Berry Farm.
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“We had a lot of 30 degree days in late May and early June, so rather than having a warning of about 10 days between when our berries start to blush and when we open, we’ve had over five days because the heat really brought them over quickly.
The warm weather Ontario experienced in May and early June allowed for what Paul calls “great berry weatherâ€.
“The weather is the boss,†I always say. You know, the heat really ripens berries and on a really hot day the berries can go from underripe to overripe, â€she says. “Fortunately, because we had very hot weather and then cooled down a bit, we had a great time for the berries this year, so we couldn’t be happier.”
According to Paul, a strawberry picking season typically lasts between 21 and 28 days once it begins. Monday marks the 20th day of its harvest.
“So we’ve been picking for a few weeks now and we’re definitely in our last week now, but they’re still great berries. “
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As the season draws to a close, the Kingstonians take the opportunity to pick strawberries while they last.
“I’ve been here before and every time we go out picking strawberries it’s so much better than just buying them at the grocery store,†says Fruition Berry Farm regular Carys Casucci. “And now is a great time to pick strawberries, so we figured it would just be a fun little thing to do with the family.â€
If you want to choose your own basket, this week will be your last chance to do so. Paul reminds potential pickers to check their website or call before coming to make sure there are any berries left.
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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